EGGS PIPPING!! Help or not?

[shellybean40]

Last night was the 21 day mark and I noticed a few eggs with pips ( cracks, and/or eggshell missing). That was around midnight. This morning, there is progress, and peeping, and a few more have the X crack on them, but none have broken the membrane yet. Is this normal?? This is my very first hatch, so I am nervous!!

 

[georgialee]

Leave 'em alone! It takes them awhile to zip after pipping. If you try to help it will let too much air into the egg and shrink wrap the membrane around the chick. It can take upwards of 24 hours from pip to zip.

 

[shellybean40]

okay-I will leave them. So exciting!!

 

[georgialee]

I know! It is soooo hard to wait, lol! They'll be better off though.

 

[shellybean40]

I have a sweet friend who has done this many times and she ALWAYS helps them out. She will stay up all night breaking off little bits of shell, opening the bator multiple times. She swears they will not hatch without help. I just really want them to do it themselves, I believe it is nature's way, you know?

 

[scbatz33]

Just an FYI, I had 4 hatch yesterday with no help. They inherently know what to do. The problems tend to arise when WE intervene. I do help, but only if I know it's a last resort. If your babies are pecking through the shell, they are doing fine. Just keep an eye and be patient.
Good luck!

 

[shellybean40]

One more question, when do they get through the membrane? They are breaking off bits of shell, but as far as I can tell, the membrane is still intact? I was just curious.